Bosco Dead At 50

Irish children’s TV star Bosco has passed away at the age of just 50. The reclusive puppet was found unresponsive in his Ballymun apartment late last night when his landlord broke in due to a dispute over unpaid rent. It is believed he was found dead in the bath.

Bosco was a regular on Irish television in the 1980s and his self-titled show ran for 386 episodes, ending production in 1987. When RTE bosses informed Bosco of their plans to cancel his show he is said to have taken the news very badly. Out of work and seemingly unwanted, his life was soon on a downward spiral. During the 90s the Irish tabloids were awash with stories of his heavy drinking and fondness for prostitutes.

Not much is known about how Bosco spent his final years and he repeatedly refused invitations to appear on chat shows. His neighbour Anthony Breslin told us Bosco mostly kept to himself.

“I’d meet him at the bins some mornings. He’d always be leaving out empty wine and vodka bottles and he’d be in bits. He’d sometimes say hello in that ridiculous high-pitched voice but to be honest I always found him a bit odd. In fact I don’t know why I’m referring to him as a he coz I don’t know what he was. More of an it I’d say.”

President Higgins, who knew Bosco in the 1980s, paid tribute to his contribution to children’s television in Ireland.

“Bosco will forever be remembered as a legend of Irish broadcasting just like Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan. We both shared a love of poetry and the Irish language. For those reasons we became good friends. It probably helped that we were the same height too.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.